Just began the installation process today. Total progress - zero. After going through the instructions and viewing drawings and photos, I don’t understand how the bays go together. Of course, it would help if` the components were labeled but that is not the major problem.
The holes on the panels just do not line up. Rather than drill new holes, we keep looking for errors on our part. The back panel is a typical issue. I would assume that the back panel is seated inside the side panels but the drawing suggest that they are seated on the inside on the left and on the outside on the right. Photos of completed domes show it done in several different ways. Regardless, the holes at the top of the back panel do not line up with the sides and the top panel. Any suggestions?
It looks like a drill and drill bits are required for the bays. The manual does not properly describe where the holes go either.
My wife and I assembled ours last November, so I imagine it is a similar batch. We had the same problems. The first thing was to be sure we assembled the bays separate from the curved walls. Then, we made sure the panels were arranged so that they overlapped in such a manner that rain would be diverted away from the joints.
Finally, yes, the holes do not line up. In fact some were easily a portion of an inch or more out of alignment. Our solution was just to drill new holes and fill any remaining holes or partial holes with caulk.
Our dome has survived a rather wet winter here with high (50 mph+) winds and about 10 inches of rain.